House passes plan to balance budget by 2002

WASHINGTON (CNN) - House Republicans pushed their Contract with America a step further Thursday by passing an austere budget plan.

The 227-203 vote fell largely along party lines.

The House plan scales back social services, cuts taxes by $245 billion and eliminates the federal deficit by 2002. It also ends guaranteed welfare for poor children, limits health care guarantees for the disabled and limits spending on Medicare.

The Senate debated a similar measure Thursday, and passage is expected Friday or Monday. A bill reconciling the House and Senate measures may be passed by the end of November.

The final bill may be in for more changes down the road since Republicans don't have the votes to override a veto by President Clinton, who has vowed to nix either the House or Senate versions of the bill.